Synonyms of abortive

abortive

adjective

ə-ˈbȯr-tiv 

as in unsuccessful

producing no results

an abortive attempt to recover the sunken pirate ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unsuccessful
• futile
• useless
• in vain
• unavailing
• fruitless
• unprofitable
• vain
• ineffective
• ineffectual
• unproductive
• insufficient
• bootless
• impossible
• profitless
• no dice
• worthless
• of no avail
• not worth the candle
• inadequate
• otiose
• inefficacious
• barren
• meaningless
• empty
• lost
• pointless
• hollow
• idle
• valueless
• hopeless
• lacking
• counterproductive
• unattainable
• no-win
• wanting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• successful
• effective
• efficient
• profitable
• productive
• fruitful
• deadly
• virtuous
• potent
• meaningful
• worthwhile
• adequate
• sufficient
• effectual
• efficacious
• practical
• feasible
• applicable
• functional
• workable
• usable
• practicable
• useable
• realizable

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of abortive

Trump had abortive talks with Democrats on issues ranging from guns to immigration, though little came of them. —W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Jan. 2025

One is Eliot Spitzer, who during his abortive tenure as governor, knocked heads to get slow-mo insurers to pay the giant settlement that a court had awarded to Silverstein. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2024

The picture arrives, of course, at a fallow time for Marvel after a string of duds and an abortive attempt to introduce a new superhero phase following the climactic, stage-clearing (and absurdly lucrative) battles of Avengers: Endgame. —Zoe Guy, Vulture, 25 July 2024

The abortive investigation was overseen by Ralph Barrington, the head of the Criminal Investigation Department at the Essex Police. —Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 29 July 2024